[stylist] Creating book of poetry

[Jackie Williams]

Bill,
Some suggestions. Have a theme, if possible. If you want just a small book,
a chap book aim for about 35 pages, one poem per page. If published, you can
still use these poems in other contests or books.
If you have more you want published, research all the contests. Most ask for
from 60-85 pages more or less.
If you pick a contest to submit to, research the judge and what kind of
poetry she or he has published.
If not a contest, read the current issues of any magazine, or book
publishers had chosen to publish. 
Steel yourself for many rejections, but get up-to-date critiques so you can
keep revising sequence of poems, etc.
If you want to self-publish, be aware of the limited sales, and the effort
necessary steps to publicize it. I could not do book tours, for instance. I
could not read my own work for readings. 
You probably need to sign up for the Poets and Writers website. 
There is so much more. Do you belong to a writing group that might help you
progress with your steps toward your goal.
As Bridgit said, poets do not usually make money, particularly if
self-published. So if your motivation is making money, do it as a business
which might save you some tax money. 
Your postage usually eats up any prize money too fast, and you often need
new versions of your software. 
I truly hope this does not discourage you. A book in your hand of your own
writing for those you want to share with might outweigh all of the hard
work, or play, if you can maintain that attitude.

Jackie Lee

Time is the school in which we learn.
Time is the fire in which we burn.
Delmore Schwartz	 

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bill Outman
via stylist
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2015 9:59 AM
To: 'Writers' Division Mailing List'
Cc: Bill Outman
Subject: [stylist] Creating book of poetry

Hello, list.  

 

I attended the business meeting at the national convention and presented one
of my poems to the session and intend to submit it for the special
convention edition of Slate and Style.  

 

Since it seems poetry is a strength of mine at the moment, I might have a
goal of putting together a book of poems that could at least generate some
income for me.  I'd like to have enough to at least reduce my considerable
debt loads which are just about breaking me at the moment.  

 

The first step is of course to create the book.  How many poems do I need
for a book of reasonable size?  

 

Any feedback would be helpful.  

 

Bill Outman 

 



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